COLINTRAIVE AND GLENDARUEL COMMUNITY PLANNING STUDY Authors Dr Geoff Fagan, University of Strathclyde Sarah Menzies, University of Strathclyde Rhona Anderson, University of Strathclyde Innes Milne, University of Strathclyde Alvaro Bogajo, Universitat De Les Illes Balears, Mallorca CADISPA Project, Faculty of Education University of Strathclyde 76 Southbrae Drive Glasgow G13 1PP Telephone: 0141-950- 3576 Website: www.CADISPA.org CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 BACKGROUND 5 NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT 10 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 11 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 15 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF S TUDY 21 METHODOLOGY 22 SECTION 1 - CTATISTICAL A NALYSIS 24 SECTION 2 – OTHER ANALYSIS 64 THE DEVELOPMENT A GENDA 75 RECOMMENDATIONS 84 BIBLIOGRAPHY 88 APPENDIX 1 – OTHER STATISTICAL DATA 91 APPENDIX 2 - PUESTIONNAIRE 95 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The successful completion of this report has been due to contributions from a number of people including the following: The Colintraive and Glendaruel Community Council Development Trust Steering Committee The Colintraive and Glendaruel Community Council Development Trust Steering Committee’s help has been invaluable in the completion of this report and we would like to thank all the members of the group. In particular, we would like to thank Alex McNaughton who acted as an exceptional contact between the group and CADISPA. Primary Schools Permission was given for CADISPA to carry out H-evaluations (a series of questions presented to the children and responses gathered by sticking ‘post-its’ onto A1 sized paper) at Kilmodan Primary School, allowing pupils in every class to have their say on the future of the village. We would like to thank Mrs Steedman, headteacher, for providing space at the school for our researchers to collate data as well as the staff and children at the school for their contribution to this study. Local Businesses and Employers We would like to thank all of the local business people who contributed to this study by agreeing to be interviewed by our researchers. Images Images, including front cover view, courtesy of Graham Clark - www.colintraivecorner.co.uk/gallery.asp?ID=4 Other images, courtesy of Bjorn Larsson collection www.timetableimages.com/maritime/index.htm Map of Colintraive and Glendaruel area Glendaruel are courtesy of Ordnance survey, Crown Copyright, 2007 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Colintraive and Glendaruel is a rural community set amongst some of the most magnificent scenery in Scotland. Local people, through this study, have identified a number of changes that they would like to see and a number of aspects of life that they do not wish to change. They are keen for any development to be led by local people, to ensure that development is owned by the community and not imposed by outsiders. People reported a sense of being left out of the development agenda, detailing gaps in services, poor infrastructure, the need for improved amenities, the need for marketing of the area and for the tourism experience to be enhanced, amongst many other issues. In response to this, local people have formed a number of organisations to tackle these issues, and are keen to form a Development Trust that will represent the two villages, to move forward the priorities identified in this study. The Colintraive and Glendaruel Community Council Development Trust Steering Committee – CGCCDT (SC) - was formed in 2006 to commission this investigation. CADISPA carried out this study within its remit of seeking to ‘help communities help themselves’ and within the context of sustainable development. In conjunction with the CGCCDT (SC), CADISPA defined the parameters and scope of the study. A questionnaire was designed in partnership with local people and was the principal investigation tool, supplemented by more qualitative research including focus groups, semi- structured interviews and H-evaluations. The main aim of the study was to document and analyse the current social and micro-economic climate of the area and to identify factors for development over the next ten years, as set out by local people. The findings of the study will provide the basis for a development agenda that can be used to take the community forward over the next ten years, after establishing the priorities and concerns of local people. Through a combination of questionnaires, interviews and focus groups, CADISPA reached as many members of the community as was possible. The response rate to our survey was 38%, and this was further strengthened by interviewing businesses and focus groups with young people and the primary school. The key priorities for future development were identified as the following:- More social, educational and sports facilities/opportunities are needed within the community in order to improve both quality of life for residents, and to provide alternative venues for visitor activities. The preservation and protection of the built (artefacts, buildings and other points of interest) and the natural environment. This is the reason many people come to the area and why local people take such pleasure from the area. There is a dearth of activities for people locally, in particular, those in the 12-18 age group and the older population. Residents intimated a strong need for new activities to overcome issues of boredom and loneliness. The need to stimulate economic development, job and wealth creation and service provision through enterprise and training – a business association with strong links to any new development trust was suggested. There is a great need to market and promote the area further to encourage more visitors and to strengthen local people’s sense of heritage. This would create economic and social benefits to the villages. The need to improve the tourist experience. The need to improve the transport infrastructure. The need to tackle the lack of affordable housing for the elderly, young families and local people. Also identified was the risk that the villages would become increasingly attractive to older, retired people or, those with second homes. Regular consultation with the community was important to ensure that the Trust has a mandate to act, and negotiate with external agencies on behalf of the community. Development needs to be driven by local people in partnership with outside organisations. A need was identified for improved broadband provision, accessible for all, and for improved telephone connection. The limited ambulance service was not acceptable to local people. There is a need for the community to identify a strategic approach to staged development, and to work together to achieve development for the villages over a period of years. There is a clear role and need for an organisation such as a Development Trust to lead these developments and to capture the skills and enthusiasm of local people in partnership with the Community Council. BACKGROUND The communities of Colintraive and Glendaruel are situated in the Argyll and Bute area. An ordinance survey map of the area indicates that Colintraive and Glendaruel lie in the heart of the Cowal peninsula. Glendaruel is a glacier valley, sparsely populated by farms and small clusters of houses. The Clachan of Glendaruel is to the south end of the glen and here you will find a few houses, Kilmodan primary school, Kilmodan church, and the Glendaruel hotel. The river Ruel runs the ten mile length of Glendaruel and feeds into Loch Riddon. Follow the east shore of Loch Riddon and you are into the Colintraive area which extends for ten miles past the East Kyles of Bute round Strone Point and up the west side of Loch Striven. The old Colintraive road follows the shores of Loch Riddon and is sparsely populated until you reach the village of Colintraive, also a mainland port for the ferry crossing to Rhubodach on the island of Bute. The village is a ribbon development extending for one and a half miles along the East Kyle. Here you will find the Colintraive hotel and shop, the village hall, the church and several residential and holiday homes. South of the village of Colintraive, the area is accessed by a single track road and is very sparsely populated for five miles. T he A886 was built in the early 70’s through G lendaruel and this was extended to C olintraive in the 80’s. The west Glendaruel r oad and old Colintraive roads are single t rack and are the only access to some of the f arms and dwellings. Both are beautiful quiet r oads enjoyed by walkers and cyclists. I n Glendaruel, the ordinance survey map i ndicates that the area had an ancient past w ith a cairn, a fort and a chapel. John B artholomew’s Gazetteer of the British Isles, r efers to ‘Antiquities area ruined fort on the i slet of Ellen-Dheirrig, a standing stone ten or t welve feet height at the head of Loch S triven, and sepulchral tumuli in several p laces’. (www.visionofbritain.org.uk) Close to the Central Belt and main population centres, yet Highland in nature, Argyll has a diverse range of flora and fauna. According to Argyll online (www.argyllonline.co.uk) the Argyll area has the richest biodiversity in the UK. Its wide range of natural resources produces and supports an extensive variety ‘of land, freshwater, marine and coastal habitats and species.’ The area around Colintraive and Glendaruel includes animal species of red and roe deer, cattle, sheep, red squirrels and rabbits and various species of birds such as Sea Eagles, Golden Eagles, Lapwings, Corncrakes, Woodpeckers, Gold Finches and Chiff Chaffs. Mammals include seals and river otters, common and grey seals inhabit the waters of Argyll. In Bridget Paterson’s book entitled ‘Colintraive and Glendaruel’ she writes about an eight foot shark caught in nets in Loch Striven in 1915, then stolen from a taxidermist in Glasgow and found up a Glasgow close! Situated close to Glendaruel at Cruach Mhor is a thirty-five turbined wind farm.